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Eating, drinking and nightlife
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Eating
in Grenoble is a pleasure, with a wide variety of restaurants catering to all budgets and tastes - a call ahead is recommended. For something quick and cheap, head for the strip of near identical pizzerias on the north bank of the river.
Interesting, atmospheric places to drink are also easy to find, with places Grenette, St-AndrA© and Notre-Dame full of cafA©-bars . On place St-AndrA©, Le Bagatel and Le Perroquet are particularly popular with the student set, as is the slightly tacky Saxo Pub , and the more reserved Le BibliothA?que , just behind the square. Another good spot is the CafA© du Nord in nearby place Claveyson, a typical old-style French cafA© and a great place to people-watch. If you're feeling nostalgic for a pub and English voices, seek refuge at Bukana , on the riverside at 1 quai CrA©qui, while to find local bohemians, try the CafA© des Arts over the bridge at 36 rue St-Laurent. The popular gay establishment, Le Queen's , is west of the old town at 62 cours Jean-JaurA?s. Grenoble's student population keeps the nightlife hopping during the academic year, with clubs like L'Arkange , 50 rue St-Laurent (Thurs-Sat), and Le Vertigo , 18 Grand-Rue (Wed-Sat 10.30pm-5.30am), among the liveliest venues. Restaurants Le Bistrot Lyonnais , 168 cours Berriat (tel 04.76.21.95.33). Perhaps the best choice in town for a good-value traditional restaurant. Offers a good value mini-carte for only 75F/a?¬11.44 and menus from 125F/a?¬19.06. Closed Sat & Sun. CafA© de l'Europe , 24 rue des LesdiguA?res (tel 04.76.43.03.35). Good fast service and subtle gastronomique cuisine are hallmarks of this respected establishment. Expect to spend 160F/a?¬24.40 per person. Closed Sun, hols & Aug. Le Couscous , 19 rue de la Poste. Popular and lively North African restaurant serving excellent couscous ( plat du jour 45F/a?¬6.86). Le Jardin de Margaux , 10 rue de Pont Carpin (tel 04.76.54.83.34). It's located on the far side of Parc Mistral, you'll need to take a cab, but once you arrive this understated gastronomique restaurant welcomes you with inexpensive and imaginative fare. Menus 90F/a?¬13.73-130F/a?¬19.83. Closed Mon, Wed & Sun evenings & Sat noon. Le Mal Assis , 9 rue Bayard (tel 04.76.54.75.93). A small and elegant traditional restaurant, serving dishes with a decidedly ProvenA§al flavour and an excellent wine carte . The evening menu is 135F/a?¬20.59. Closed Sun & Mon and mid-July to Aug. La Mandragore , 11 rue Marx-Dormoy (tel 04.76.96.18.95). The best of Grenoble's green cuisine, popular with local vegetarians and organic food fans, though it's A la carte only. Worth the long tram ride (line A to stop "St-Bruno"). Closed Sat evening, Sun & Mon. A la Table Ronde , 7 place St-AndrA© (tel 04.76.44.22.62). While not famous for its food - local fare which never quite rises above average quality - this is an atmospheric place, notable for being the second oldest restaurant in France (1739), numbering among its clients Rousseau and LA©on Blum. Menus from 75F/a?¬11.44 lunch and 105F/a?¬16.01 evening. Le Tonneau de DiogA?ne , place Notre-Dame (tel 04.16.42.38.40). A cheap standby, with uninspiring steak frites -type cuisine, but incredibly popular with tourists and a good place to meet fellow travellers. Closed Sun evening & Mon lunch.
Le Valgo
, 2 rue St-Hughes (tel 04.76.51.38.85). A cosy, rustic-styled haven in the heart of Grenoble, serving up traditional specialities of the Hautes-Alpes. Excellent value, with menus at 67-125F/a?¬10.22-19.06. Closed Sun & Mon, Tues & Wed evenings, and Aug. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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France,
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